SALEM, West Virginia - With the fall rapidly approaching in the Valley of Learning, the Salem Athletics Department is pleased to reveal the 2025 entry class in the Salem Athletics Hall of Fame. This year's class features 5 former Tiger student-athletes, 1 team, and 1 administrator.

James Sabo - Athletic Trainer and Administrator

The first honoree is former Salem athletic trainer, instructor, and administrator James Sabo. Sabo spent 12 years (1984-1996) as the head athletic trainer here at Salem, working mainly with the football team and assisting with the other varsity sports at Salem during that time. On top of caring for student-athletes, Sabo oversaw student athletic training education programs at Salem and spearheaded numerous facility improvement projects, including press boxes, athletic training rooms, concession stands, and locker rooms. 

Chuck Davisson - Football

The second inductee is former football student-athlete Chuck Davisson. A local product from Roosevelt-Wilson High School, Davisson competed for the Tigers during the final 4 seasons of the Salem football program from 1985-1989. During that time, he was a three-year starter at tight end, honored with the Ted Underwood Award, and earned 1st Team All-WVIAC and NAIA All-American honors. After his time as a Tiger, he had stints playing professional football for the Cincinnati Rockers of the Arena Football League in 1991 and the NFL's Atlanta Falcons in 1992.

Martha Molein Romine Devericks - Multi-Sport Athlete and Administrator

Our third inductee is Martha Molein Romine Devericks. Devericks competed as a student-athlete in a time before women's athletics were formalized, namely from 1956-1960. She played softball, basketball, volleyball, and tennis for the Tigers and went on to be a valuable part of the athletics administration at Salem under Ted Underwood and Clem Clower. She also served as an instructor and an NAIA eligibility representative for the Tigers. Outside of her work on campus, Devericks had a long and successful career as an educator in Doddridge and Harrison County schools. 

Thomas Creola - Baseball

Over to the diamond for our time next member of the class of 2025, namely Thomas Creola. Creola played baseball for the Tigers from 1965-1969, mainly as a catcher. He was a 4-year starter under the direction of Tiger legend Clem Clower. He earned All-WVIAC honors an unprecedented 4 times, and was named the 1969 WVIAC Player of the Year and an NAIA All-American. He was a 3 year team captain and won the Salem College Sportsman of the Year Award in 1969. He went on to a minor league baseball career where he played in both the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles farm systems. 

Wykeen Kelly - Men's Basketball

Next, we have former Salem men's basketball student-athlete Wykeen Kelly. Kelly played for the Tigers from 2001-2003 after starting his career in junior college. Kelly was a star as a guard for the Tigers and earned back-to-back All-WVIAC and WVIAC Player of the Year honors in 2002 and 2003. He also earned national All-American honors in 2003. After Salem. Kelly embarked on an international professional basketball career that saw him play in Belgium, Cyprus, Israel, and Ukraine.

Phil Browne - Football

Our final individual inductee is Phil Browne. Coming to Salem from Hurricane, West Virginia, Browne was a star linebacker on the Salem football team from 1983 to 1986. In that time, Browne was a vital 4-year starter in Head Coach Terry Bowden's defenses at Salem as he earned All-WVIAC honors twice for the Tigers. He finished his Salem career as the all-time leader in tackles as well. 

1996-1997 Men's Basketball Team

Lastly, the final entry in the Class of 2025 goes to the 196-1997 Salem Men's Basketball team. This team was one of the most successful in Salem's history (28-3 Overall), as they reached the NCAA Division II Final Four for the first and only time in program history. They opened the postseason undefeated in WVIAC play (19-0), and dominated both the WVIAC and NCAA Division II East Regional Tournaments to advance to Louisville, Kentucky's Freedom Hall where they defeated Elizabeth City State to advance to the national semifinals. They eventually fell to California State, Bakersfield. Led by Mike Carey, the members of this team were Terrence Springer (who finished with All-NCAA Tournament honors), Tony Washington, Melvin Roberts, Chris Battley, Tommy Feagin, Carl Bohannon, Jun Okayama, Joey Fenstermacher, Ron Lee, Cordell Wise, Charles Davis, Pete Thompson, Mark Hughes, and Leroy Blyden. 

All of this year's honorees will be formally inducted into the Salem Athletics Hall of Fame in the annual induction ceremony over homecoming weekend. This year, those festivities will take place on October 3rd in the Benedum Library in Salem, West Virginia.